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PRINCIPLES 



OF 



THE HUMAN MIND, 

DEDUCED FROM PHYSICAL LAWS; 

TOGETHER WITH A LECTURE OS" 

ELECTRO-BIOLOGY, 

OR 

THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 



IliT ALFRED 8MEE, F.R.S., 

ft 

SURGEON TO THE ROYAL GENERAL DISPENSARY OF LONDON, AND LECTURER 
ON SURGERY, ETC., ETC. 



WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. 



NEW YORK: 
FOWLERS AND WELLS, PUBLISHERS, 

CLINTON HALL, 131 NASSAU STREET. 

Rrvvn, 148 WwMnfittm St.] 185 4 L' ""* " v * M* " ^ 






Bi-ol-o-gy, the Science of Life ; 

a term introduced by Treviranus of Bremen, in place of 

Physiology. — L awren c e. 



flTEREOTYPED BY C. C. SAVAGE, 
13 Chambers Street, N. Y 



D UBLISHERS' PREFACE. 



All investigations relating to the Human 
Mind must necessarily attract the most pro- 
found attention of every intelligent individual. 
The increasing demand for works on Psy- 
chology, Phrenology, Magnetism, and^other 
kindred subjects, have excited to action many 
of the leading minds of our own and other 
countries. Hence, new and startling develop- 
ments are constantly being made, and our 
store of knowledge increased. We are not 
aware that the author of this work has before 
been introduced to the American public, yet 
his name is favorably and widely known in 
England and France, where his various works 
have been extensively circulated. 

It will be our object to publish all works, 
the tendency of which shall be to advance the 
race in moral, intellectual, and physical 
improvement. 



6 PREFACE. 

FROM THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 

u I apprehend that the time is fast approach- 
ing, when no other system of mental science 
will be acknowledged but that which is based 
upon physical laws and the structure of the 
brain 5 and if my researches shall be found 
hereafter to have contributed to the develop- 
ment of true philosophy, I shall indeed feel 
more than amply rewarded for the hours of 
anxious but delightful labor spent in its devel- 
opment 55 



CONTENTS. 

Principles of the Human Mind. 

Knowledge of the External World page 9 

The Senses 1C 

Combination of Senses 11 

Infinity 11 

Time 12 

Cause 12 

Pleasure and Pain .• * < 13 

Memory . 14 

Consciousness * 14 

Instinctive Ideas 14 

Reflection 16 

Judgment - 16 

Imagination 17 

Action 17 

Specific Action 18 

Hope and Fear 19 

Desire 19 

Virtue and Vice * 19 

Moral Law 20 

Volition * 20 

Free Agency 20 

Certain Specific Ideas. 

Life 21 

Death , 21 

Mind 21 

Organization 21 

Future State 22 

Diseased States of the Mind. 

Insane Ideas 22 

Defective State of Mind. 

Idiocy 24 

Loss of Memory 24 

Fits 24 

Fatuity 25 

Loss of Sensation 25 

Paralysis 25 

Senile Imbecility 25 

Varieties of Races ,.* , 26 



8 CONTENTS. 

Electro-Biology; or, the VoLTiJC Mechanism of Man. 

Definition of Electro-Biology page 29 

Office of the Nerve-Fibre , 30 

Fluid Telegraphic Conductors 31 

Nerve-Fibre 32 

Gutta-P ercha T ubes „\ 32 

The Voltaic Current in a Fluid 33 

How to make a Piece of Metal Positive and Negative 33 

Value of the Electro- Voltaic Test.. 34 

Passage of the Voltaic Current 34 

Introduction of two Steel Needles into a Rabbit -. 35 

Sensations — How received and expressed 35 

The Photo-Voltaic Circuit 36 

Positive Photo- Voltaic Circuits 37 

Negative Photo- Voltaic Circuits - 37 

The Eye supplied with Nerve and Blood 37 

Vision a Voltaic Phenomenon 38 

Blood and Nerve distributed to the Ear 38 

Blood and Nerve to the Nasal Organ 39 

Electric Action excited by Odors 40 

Voltaic Force excited by Savors «... 41 

Impressions or Sensation upon the Skin 42 

Thermo Voltaic Circuits 43 

The Mechanism of Feeling is Voltaic 44 

How Sensations are received ■. 45 

Completion of the Electro-Biological Circuit •. 46 

Office of a Commissure 46 

The Combination B attery * 47 

How to produce a perfect Fac-simile Picture 48 

How Ideas are derived - .- 49 

Sensor and Motor Nerves opposed 53 

Copper more easily reducible than Zinc * 53 

The Electric Battery of Fishes 55 

The Artificial Electric Eel 56 

Perfection of Nature's Operations 59 

Man a Double Voltaic Circuit 59 

How to supersede the Steam Engine - 60 

Force generated by the Voltaic Battery 60 

The Voltaic Circuit in Animals 61 

How their Electric Current is set in Motion Gl 

The Functions of the Blood-Corpuscle in the Human Body 62 

Circulation of Blood stopped by Electricity 63 

All Sensations of Animal Life are Voltaic Effects 63 

Life is one Word used to signify a number of Changes 64 

Inference from the Teachings of Electro-Biology 64 



PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND, 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXTERNAL WORLD. 

1. Our ideas of the external world arise, 
primarily, from an action upon the ultimate 
nervous fibres of the organs of sensation, by 
the specific stimulus competent to excite each 
organ of sensation respectively. 

2. Each primitive nervous fibril is called a 
unit 5 the repetition of units, Number. 

3. That which is competent to act upon 
these nervous fibrils is called Matter. 

4. Whenever matter undergoes any change 
which renders it appreciable to our senses, it 
is said to evince Force. 

5. The definite combination of nervous 
fibres excited to action determines the char- 



10 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 

acter of the idea presented to the mind, such 
as form, position, magnitude. 

6. Each combination may be expressed by 
a word or cipher, and forms a definite image. 
The use of words is called Language. 

7. The sum total of all the possible combi- 
nations of the ultimate nervous fibril, excited 
to action, comprises all the possible images 
which can be represented to the mind. 

8. Inasmuch as the possible combination of 
all the nervous fibrils is immensely numerous, 
so are the images which may be reflected in 
the mind immensely numerous. 

SENSES. 

9. An idea is represented to the mind, when 
any one or more of the filaments of either 
specific organ of sensation is excited without 
reference to the definite image thereby pro- 
duced. 

10. This solitary idea, derived from the fila- 



PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 11 

ments of the eye, is termed Vision ; of the 
ear, Hearing j of the nose, Smelling $ of the 
palate, Tasting * y of the skin, Feeling $ and, 
probably, from the nerves communicating the 
changes occurring in our own body, Per*son 
ality. 

COMBINATION OF SENSES. 

11. The perfect knowledge of any object is 
obtained by impressions received by the sum 
of the organs of sensation. 

12. But as matter may exist without exci- 
ting all the organs of sensation at one time, 
we determine the combination of senses which 
has concurred to give us the knowledge of any 
external object. 

INFINITY* 

13. An idea is represented from the excite- 
ment of one or all the nervous fibrils of any 
organ of sensation indiscriminately. This 



12 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 

idea is infinite, inasmuch as it is indivisible, 
incapable of addition, and represents totality.^ 

TIME. 

14. Our knowledge of the external world at 
any given period, is the sum total of the im- 
ages from all our senses. 

15. These images represented to the mind 
are perpetually changing. 

16. When images change, one remains j 
the other changes perhaps several times be- 
fore the first changes. The relation of these 
changes to each other is termed the time of 
their occurrence $ that which changes the 
least frequently is said to be of the longest 
duration. 

CAUSE. 

17. In the change of images, when one 
specific image never appears without a similar 

* Infinity is sometimes confounded with its hyperbolical us© 
in the sense of endless number. 



PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 13 

antecedent, and the matter in the external 
world which gave rise to the first image set in 
motion the second — the antecedent image is 
said to cause the second image. 

18. The mind finds great difficulty in distin- 
guishing between concomitance and cause, 
because the matter which produces an ante- 
cedent image may not set in motion the mat- 
ter which produced the second image. 

PLEASURE AND PAIN. 

19. When images of the external world are 
produced with a certain intensity, the idea of 
Pleasure is excited 5 when with a greater 
intensity, the idea of Pain.* 

20. The transition from Pleasure to Pain 
being sudden, not gradual, it follows, that the 
nature of the action on the brain — and, con- 
sequently, of the ideas — is different. 

* Every action of our lives is either pleasurable or painful ; 
and thus we perceive how vastly the former state preponderates 
over the latter. 

2 



14 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 

MEMORY. 

21. An image once formed in the brain 
produces an indelible impressior^ and may at 
any future time recur. This property is called 
Memory. 

CONSCIOUSNESS. 

22. When an image is produced by an ac- 
tion upon the external senses, the actions on 
the organs of sense concur with the actions in 
the brain $ and the image is then a Reality. 

23. When an image occurs to the mind 
without a corresponding simultaneous action 
of the body, it is called a Thought. 

24. The power to distinguish between a 
thought and a reality, is called Consciousness. 

INSTINCTIVE IDEAS. 

25. Several ideas must necessarily co-exist, 
giving rise to compound ideas always existing 
in the brain : thus, personality and infinity give 
us the idea of the Soul , pleasure and infinity, 



PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 15 

of Good 5 pain and infinity, of Evil ; cause and 
infinity, of God ; time and infinity, of Eter- 
nity 5 infinity, pleasure, and time, of Heaven 5 
infinity, pain, and time, of Hell. # 

26. These instinctive ideas are not produced 
by the immediate action of external influences, 
but have their origin in the construction of the 
brain, or organ of thought. 

27. Instinctive ideas belong to the higher 
class of mental images 5 and there is no reason 
to suppose that a more simple idea is implant- 
ed in the human species. In the lower ani- 
mals, however, it is apparent that either other 
images exist, which guide the creatures to per- 
form their operations — as the bird to build the 
nest, the bee the honeycomb — or, that the 
nervous system is so constructed that the crea- 

* As these instinctive ideas are simply thoughts, and can not 
be proved by our external senses, the mind may be led at times 
to deny the reality of their existence. Revelation, howevei 
declares their truth, and thus compensates for the natural weak 
ness of man. 



16 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 

ture is led to perform specific acts under some 
definite excitement. 

REFLECTION. 

28. When images already implanted in the 
brain, which possess many points in common, 
continually reappear, the party is said to be 
reflecting. 

29. During reflection, the influences of the 
external world to produce new images are en- 
tirely, or to a great part, neglected. 

30. By reflection, ideas may be combined 
so as to form general laws. 

31. By reflection, general laws may be ap- 
plied to specific instances, or images may be 
analyzed into their component parts. 

JUDGMENT. 

32. When an idea is represented to the 
mind, it either accords or discords with other 
ideas previously received, or with general laws 
resulting therefrom, or with the moral law. 



PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 17 

The determination between this concordance 
or discordance is called Judgment 



IMAGINATION. 

33. Man has the power of uniting two or 
more antecedent images, or the parts of two 
or more antecedent images. By this power, 
a totally new image is formed, and hence it is 
called Imagination. 

34. Observation is the basis of fancy 5 and 
the novelist is fruitful only in proportion as he 
stores his mind with natural images, 

ACTION. 

35. Man acts by electricity, which is set in 
motion through the muscular structures, where- 
by contraction ensues, and parts of the body 
are moved. 

36. Action may be produced by the imme- 
diate influence of the external agents upon 
the body, which give rise to a new image in 



18 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 

the brain j and action may also be produced 
by the recurrence of a former image. 

SPECIFIC ACTION. 

37. The mind is one and indivisible 5 and 
thus the particular muscular movement, which 
the electrical force determines, is not only 
regulated by an immediate image, but by ev- 
erv other image which has at any former time 
been implanted in the brain. 

38. Pleasure and pain regulate all actions 5 
hence the particular movement which is deter- 
mined arises from the pleasurable or painful 
character of all former images 5 as animals, as 
well as human beings, seek those actions which 
are likely to be pleasurable, and eschew those 
which are likely to be painful. 

39. But the action determined in any 
particular instance may be painful for the 
sake of obtaining greater pleasure at future 
periods; and the idea of obtaining infinite 



PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 19 

pleasure may allow of the most intense imme- 
diate pain, 

HOPE AND FEAR. 

40. The idea of future pleasure is called 
Hope $ of future pain, Fear. The government 
of mankind is conducted by exciting Hope 
and Fear. 

DESIRE. 

41. When a tendency to act exists, it is 
called Desire ; and always exists, more or 
less, when a being is in good health, and in a 
state free from fatigue. 

VIRTUE AND VICE. 

42. All actions, in the higher generalizations, 
would give the idea either of infinite pleasure 
or of infinite pain. Actions which concur 
with those which lead to infinite pleasure, are 
called Virtuous $ and those which lead to infi- 
nite pain are called Vicious. 



20 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 

MORAL LAW 

43. The moral law, being infinite, is compe- 
tent to control all actions. It is therefore 
important that it should be frequently and 
strongly impressed upon the human mind. 

VOLITION. 

44. The resultant of the force of an imme- 
diate stimulus, and of all former ideas im- 
planted in the brain, is termed Volition, 

FREE AGENCY. 

45. A man is born a free agent $ but after 
images are once implanted, he is compelled 
to act from the ideas existing in his brain. 
Hence, could we but tell the exact ideas which 
any human being possessed, it would be prac- 
ticable to foretell his line of action under any 
defined circumstance. 



PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 21 

CERTAIN SPECIFIC IDEAS. 

LIFE. 

46. The term Life is assigned to the idea 
which the mind forms of the capacity of an 
organized being to perform its functions. 

DEATH. 

47. The term Death is assigned to the idea 
which the mind receives of an organized being, 
incompetent to perform the vital action. 

MIND. 

48. The term Mind is assigned to the gen- 
eral idea of any action of the brain, which is 
a part of the organization of man. An idea 
is the term assigned to any specific action in 
the brain. 

ORGANIZATION. 

49. Organization is the term assigned to the 
construction of a being to adapt it to perform 
certain functions. 



22 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 

FUTURE STATE. 

50. The mind has constantly represented to 
it the idea of a personality which will exist 
infinitely. 

51. While, however, the idea exists, we 
have no power to learn the properties of in- 
finity 5 and hence we can not define the nature 
of the state in which we shall live hereafter. 



DISEASED STATES OF MIND. 

INSANE IDEAS. 

52. Whenever an idea appears in the brain, 
which is neither instinctive nor is due to ex- 
ternal causes, nor is deduced by the ordinary 
operation of the brain, it is said to be an 
Insane Idea. 

53. When this idea is continuously the 
same, the party is said to have a Monomania. 

54. When various images appear and vanish 



PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 23 

indiscriminately, the state is called Incohe- 
rence, and when this state is combined with 
more or less unconsciousness, it is termed 
Delirium. 

55. The danger of insane ideas depends 
upon the distinctness with which the idea is 
impressed upon the brain, for it will deter- 
mine the party to act in proportion to the 
power with which it is impressed. 

56. To the violent actions arising from 
strongly-implanted diseased ideas, the term 
Mania is given 5 and the violence of the Ma- 
nia is proportionate to the power of the delu- 
sion. To the individual it is an exaltation of 
pleasure. 

57. When, from the delusion, the patient is 
in continual fear, he is said to be melancholy $ 
and it is probably, to the individual, an exalta- 
tion of pain. 

58. When a fixed insane idea exists in the 
mind, the party can not be said to be partially 



24 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 

deluded ; for, inasmuch as the mind is one and 
indivisible, it will control all actions. 

59. A strong moral impression may coun- 
teract an insane image, as a party may be kept 
from doing wrong, by feeling assured that it 
will lead to present or future inconvenience to 
himself. 



DEFECTIVE STATE OF MIND. 

IDIOTCY. 

60. When the structure of the brain is con- 
genially defective, so that it can not perform 
all its normal actions, the party is said to be 
an idiot. 

LOSS OF MEMORY. 

61. Sometimes the power of memory is in- 
termittent, or is totally lost, as after the fre- 
quent recurrence of epileptic fits. 

FITS. 

62. Any interval of unconsciousness, except 
sleep, is called a Fit. 



PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 25 

FATUITY. 

63. When, from loss of memory, or want of 
powei in the brain, the functions of reflection 
or judgment are not perfectly performed, the 
individual is said to be fatuous. 

L033 OF SENSATION. 

64. Sometimes the power of receiving im- 
pressions from the external world is diminished 
or lost, as in blindness, deafness, etc. 

PARALYSIS. 

65. When parts of the body do not move 
by volition, they are said to be paralyzed. 

SENILE IMBECILITY. 

66. In old age, the brain loses its power to 
receive new images, to restore by-gone impres- 
sions, to connect different images, or to apply 
general laws to specific instances. That which 
ennobles the man has passed away 5 the out- 
ward form remains, but the inward structure 

has lost its power to act. Childhood again 
3 



26 PRINCIPLES OF THE HUMAN MIND. 

ensues — not to acquire new ideas, but to for- 
get those before implanted. All that is beau- 
tiful or desirable in this world has passed away 
— the brain has lost its power — the mind 
ceases — the very existence of the man is un- 
known to himself, till death gives rise to a new 
life, and discloses that new and glorious state 
in which our organization teaches us that man 
will be immaterial and immortal. 

VARIETIES OF RACES. 

67. As individuals differ in their organiza 
tion, it follows that they differ in their capa 
city to perform various acts, and we may pre- 
sume that the mind being one of the functions 
of the body, is of varying power in different 
individuals. 

68. The observations which apply to differ- 
ent individuals, apply with greater force to 
different races. 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY, 



THE VOLTATC MECHANISM OF MAN, 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY; 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 



Electro-Biology literally means, neither 
more nor less than the relation of electricity 
to the vital functions. Now, systematic wri- 
ters divide the vital functions into two great 
classes — into those of animal life, and into 
those of organic life. 

The functions of animal life will particularly 
occupy our attention at present 5 and for their 
consideration, we shall have to study the ap- 
paratus by which the animal receives impres- 
sions from the external world, transmits them 

to the brain, registers them, combines them, 

3* 



30 electro-biology; ok, 

and acts, not only upon the immediate impres- 
sions, but also upon those which it has re- 
ceived at former periods. 

For the manifestation of the functions of 
animal life, we require a central parenchyma 
or brain, a peripheral or body, the two being 
connected together by a peculiar tissue called 
"nerve-fibre j w and at both situations a proper 
supply of bright arterial blood is requisite, for 
the production of the phenomena of life. If 
we look to purely physical contrivances, we 
find that similar conditions are fulfilled by a 

double voltaic circuit 

Z — S 

S — Z 

If we abstract the proper exciting fluid from 
either end, or substitute any other fluid, or de- 
stroy the structure at one end or the other^ or 
divide the connecting portions or wires, the 
effects proper to the apparatus will not be 
manifested, and the battery will be destroyed. 
The analogy between the mechanism of a 



THE VOLTAIC 31ECHANISM OF MAN. * 31 

double voltaic circuit and that of animal life is 
quite complete; for if we pith an animal (an 
operation which separates the brain from the 
body), or remove the blood from the brain, or 
from the peripheral part, or destroy the struc- 
ture of either the brain or the periphery, action 
is stopped, and animal life ceases. 

You will at once say, doubtless, that man 
has no metallic wires, no plates ; and there- 
fore, you may naturally ask, how far does that 
fact destroy the analogy which I have given to 
you ? It is not necessary, however that the 
connecting portions should consist of metal; 
and though all present are doubtless accus- 
tomed to see the electric telegraphic wires 
along the course of the railways, yet I have 
here upon the table an example of fluid tele- 
graphic conductors, which answer as efficiently 
for the conducting of the voltaic force, as wires 
or metals. Those among you who reside at 
Upper Clapton, may remember some time since 



32' ELECTRO-BIOLOGY j OR, 

having seen mysterious wires placed at an ele- 
vated situation round the Horse-shoe Point on 
the River Lea. At the time these wires were 
in that situation, I was experimenting upon 
the conducting power of liquids, and they were 
found to possess that property in an extraordi- 
nary degree. If the nerves, however, carry 
the voltaic force, they might perhaps be ex- 
pected to have within themselves some means 
of insulation, and from my own microscopical 
examination of nerve-fibre perfectly fresh, I 
believe that a layer of fat exists in the interior 
of each primitive fibril, which would as effi- 
ciently insulate it as the gutta-percha of my 
tube does these artificial nerves w r hich are 
placed on the table. 

Fig. 1. 




Double voltaic circuit, with gutta-percha tubes; Z, zinc; S, 
silver ; C, C, copper wires for electro-voltaic test. 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 33 

In this double voltaic apparatus before you, 
in which the communicating portion consists of 
gutta-percha tubing, filled with acid and water, 
a powerful voltaic current is passing, but one 
which will yield no indications of its presence 
to ordinary voltaic tests. It is no easy matter, 
gentlemen, to prove the presence of a voltaic 
current in a fluid, and for a long period I did 
not know how to proceed to render its exist- 
ence certain. However, at last I observed if 
any metal capable of being oxydized was inter- 
posed in the path of a voltaic circuit, that one 
portion becomes positive, the other negative 5 
and that this result is no fanciful chimera, I 
now show you an electro-metallurgic precipi- 
tating trough, in which a piece of copper is in- 
serted between the positive and negative plates, 
and you will at once perceive that the portion 
near the negative pole has become acted upon 
or positive, the part nearest the positive pole 
has become negative and has metallic copper 



34 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY J OR, 

deposited upon it. From this experiment I 
saw that a mode was afforded to me of ascer- 
taining the presence of a voltaic circuit in any 
fluid. To give you a practical illustration of 
the value of the electro-voltaic test, I have in- 
troduced two copper wires (fig. 1, C C) into 
one of the gutta-percha tubes constituting my 
artificial nerves, and you will perceive that the 
moment I connect them with a galvanometer, 
deflection ensues. Animal bodies consist solely 
of membranes and fluids, and therefore, in the 
order of my investigations, I had to study bat- 
teries solely composed of similar materials. 
This form of voltaic circuit is extremely diffi- 
cult to investigate, though one is placed upon 
the table for your inspection. 

After I had thoroughly studied the electro- 
voltaic test, the time arrived to ascertain 
whether a voltaic current was actually passing 
during nervous action. For although the anal- 
ogies which I have detailed were, to my mind, 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 35 

complete, yet analogy would be useless with- 
out the corroboration of direct experiment. 
My first experiment was, to introduce two steel 
needles into a rabbit 5 the first into the masse- 
ter, or muscle which enables the creature to 
masticate $ the second, into the subcutaneous 
cellular tissue. After two or three minutes, 
the creature, which was very tame, attempted 
to bite my finger 5 the power of volition was 
sent to the muscle ; this acted upon my elec- 
tro-voltaic test, and you may judge of my in- 
expressible delight, when the deflection of the 
needle showed to my mind the mechanism of 
volition. These needles being between the 
skin and muscle, the course of the voltaic cir- 
cuit is clearly demonstrated to exist between 
these two points, and therefore each required 
a most minute consideration. 

Sensations are received by various organs 
which are destined to be acted upon by cer- 
tain physical forces, as the eye by light, the 



36 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY; OR, 

ear by sound, the nose by odors, the tongue 
by savors, or the skin by heat or force. 

It is quite certain that if a voltaic circuit is 
generated in the eye, there must be such con- 
trivances as photo-voltaic circuits, that is, vol- 
taic circuits in which light causes the evolution 
of electricity. In trying the 'experiment, I 
found that there were not only an extensive 
series of combinations in which the sun's rays 
determine the generation of electricity, but 
that in one division light caused a positive 
voltaic circuit ; in the second, a negative vol- 
taic circuit. The table of these circuits will 
illustrate the manner in which these circuits 
are formed, by using solutions so arranged 
that one portion may be screened from the 
light, and the second may be acted upon pow- 
erfully by the sun's rays. 



1HE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 37 

POSITIVE PHOTO-VOLTAIC CIRCUITS. 

Mixed solutions of per-nitrate of iron and red ferrocyanate of 
potash. 

Mixed solutions of bromine water, phosphorus water, and per- 
nitrate of iron. 

NEGATIVE PHOTO-VOLTAIC CIRCUITS. 
Mixed solutions of proto-sulphate of iron and nitrate of silver. 
Mixed solutions of gallic acid and nitrate of silver. 
Mixed solutions of oxalic acid and chloride of gold. 
Mixed solutions of ferrocyanate of potash and ammonio-per-cit- 

rate of iron. 
Mixed solutions of ferrocyanate of potash and ammonio-per- 

tartrate of iron. 
Mixed solutions of ferrocyanate of potash and potassio-tartrate 

of iron. 

These experiments I can not show now, 
because it requires the sun's rays to shine 
upon one side of my apparatus 5 but from 
what I have stated, you will perceive that it is 
quite within the range of ordinary physical 
effects to have voltaic circuits set in action by 
light. 

Having developed photo-voltaic circuits, the 
eye itself next demands our attention 5 and 
we find nerve and blood to be abundantly sup- 
plied to that organ. The electro-voltaic test 

4 



38 electro-biology; or, 

is best applied by the insertion of one needle 
into the choroid, the second into the muscles 
of the eyeball, and I found a slight deflection 
of the galvanometer when a strong light was 
thrown into the eye, proving that vision was a 
voltaic phenomenon. 

The essential part of the organ of hearing 
is encased in textures of such extreme hard- 
ness, that it will probably be for ever pre- 
vented from being the subject of direct exper- 
iment. In the cochlea, I believe we may 
reasonably assume that the pitch of the note 
is determined 5 and in the semicircular canals 
which are placed in the three orthogonal 
planes of a cube, physiologists are pretty gen- 
erally agreed that animals learn the direction 
of sound. Blood and nerve — essentials to 
voltaic action — are here distributed, and no 
physical difficulty is presented to the proba- 
bility of a voltaic circuit being determined by 
sounds. 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 



°J 



39 




Apparatus showing the generation of a voltaic circuit by odors. 

The nasal organ is, like the ear and eye, 
liberally supplied with blood and nerve-fibres. 
The voltaic circuit is easily demonstrated by 
the electro-voltaic test ; but the animal has an 
extraordinary repugnance to the operation, 
and you must be extremely careful not to be 
deceived by other secretions which are com- 
petent to set up the voltaic action. I can very 
readily show you that it is not at all difficult 
to form voltaic circuits, in which odors should 
excite the electric action. The tube which I 
hold in my hand contains two iron plates, 
which are separated by a membrane, and on 
each side pieces of sponge, dipped in very 



40 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY j OR, 

dilute muriatic acid, are arranged. Now, if 
ammoniacal vapor, which produces the most 
powerful action on the natural nose, be 
brought under one side of the diaphragm, 
you perceive that a very strong action of the 
needle is immediately produced. The experi- 
ment which I have selected is one which 
shows the result easily, rapidly, and in a very 
marked manner j but I should not think it a 
bold assertion to declare, that with a little 
trouble and patience I could exhibit voltaic 
effects, although perhaps to a less marked 
extent, with every other odoriferous body. 

Fig. 3. 




Apparatus showing the generation of a voltaic circuit by savors. 

When an animal tastes, the matter which 
contains the savor comes in immediate con- 
tact with the tongue, and is there probably 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 41 

absorbed. I need hardly state, that the essen- 
tials for sensation, blood, and nerve, are abun- 
dantly supplied to that organ. With respect 
to physical contrivances analogical with the 
tongue, it is very easy to show voltaic force 
excited by savors; and I have here a V-shaped 
tube, containing a solution of pernitrate of 
iron, and two platinum poles, which exhibit by 
themselves no signs of electric action. As 
soon, however, as I drop a little infusion of 
meat into one side of the tube, you will in- 
stantly perceive that the galvanometer shows 
signs of action. There is no mystery about 
the meat, as sugar, or, in fact, any other savor, 
would have had a similar property in a greater 
or less degree, The direct examination of 
the tongue in the living animal affords unsat- 
isfactory results, inasmuch as secretions in the 
mouth are very apt to give wrong results — a 
circumstance which should be very carefully 
guarded against. 

4* 



42 electro-biology; or, 

The last organ of sensation to which I have 
to beg your attention is the Skin. Now, by 
the ordinary sensor nerves, we derive two sets 
of impressions of somewhat different charac- 
ters — for instance, we are enabled to judge 
of impressions upon the body by either heat 
or force, or what may be termed csenaisthen- 
ics. We are also enabled to judge of the 
changes taking place within our own body, 
which estimation may be more properly called 
somaisthenics. By somaisthenics we are ena- 
bled to estimate the slightest muscular motion, 
and, in fact, I can not move my finger or my 
arm to even the slightest extent without hav- 
ing a perfectly distinct idea of the amount of 
motion produced. 

The skin is acted upon by variations of 
temperature and force $ hence we have to in- 
quire how far heat and force can be employed 
to set in motion the voltaic force. In experi- 
menting upon the variations of temperature, J 



THE VOLTAIC* MECHANISM OF MAN. 43 

found a large series of thermo-voltaic circuits, 
which, curiously enough, are analogical to 
photo-voltaic circuits, inasmuch as heat, at 
various times, determines both negative and 
positive circuits in the same manner as light. 
I have here a negative thermo-voltaic circuit, 

Fig. 4. 




Thermo-voltaic circuit in which the voltaic force is produced 
by heat. 

The apparatus, as you perceive, consists of a 
V-tube, containing sulphate of copper (fig. 4). 
Into each side of the tube a copper wire is 
place, and you perceive, that the moment I 
apply the heat of a spirit-lamp to one side, the 
galvanometer is very strongly deflected, the 
heated side becoming the negative pole. 
When force acts upon the skin, I presume 



44 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY 5 OR, 

the blood corpuscle is prevented from coming 
in contact with the termination of the nerve- 
fibre 5 and I will beg you to bear this supposi- 
tion in mind, as in a later part of this lecture 
I shall demonstrate to you, that if this suppo- 
sition be correct, a voltaic circuit must be 
generated. My observations upon heat and 
force simply indicate that a thermo- or dyna- 
mo-voltaic circuit is an ordinary voltaic or 
physical phenomenon ; but that by no means 
proves that in the living body the mechanism 
of feeling is voltaic. This, however, is an 
experiment easily shown, for we have but to 
introduce our electro-voltaic test into the cu- 
taneous textures, when a powerful deflection 
of the galvanometer occurs whenever we 
pinch or otherwise irritate the skin. We thus 
find that the mechanism of all the sensations 
is voltaic, and according to the laws of the 
voltaic test, the needle nearest the negative 
pole becomes positive; that nearest the posi- 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 45 

tive pole, negative. From direct experiment, 
I should therefore infer, that the organs of 
sensation all constitute the positive pole of the 
peripheral battery. These inferences, how- 
ever, must always be taken with a proper 
allowance for the complex character of the 
voltaic circuits in the body, or rather, I would 
say, for the complex materials of which the 
circuit is composed. 

Sensations are received by a certain defi- 
nite number of sensor nerves, which constitute 
the only means we possess of obtaining a 
knowledge of the external world. The sensor 
nerves pass to the brain, and then come in 
contact with a highly vascular tissue, called 
the gray matter of the brain $ and I invite your 
attention to the very exquisite injections which 
I have made of that tissue, by means of the 
solution of carmine, and which will be exhib- 
ited under the microscope in the library after 
the lecture. 



46 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY 5 OR, 

Inasmuch as the sensor nerves come in con 
tact with blood-vessels, it follows from voltaic 
laws, that a voltaic battery exists in the brain, 
which is opposed to that in the body, and by 
which the electro-biological circuit is comple- 
ted. At this point we leave the regions of 
direct experiment, and we must deduce the 
mechanism of the central battery according to 
voltaic laws on the one hand, and the proper- 
ties of the mind on the other. 

I infer that the sensations are simply re- 
peated in the brain, nerve for nerve, action for 
action, and this first battery I term the sensa- 
tion or aisthenic battery 5 the second pole of 
this battery is probably connected with the 
corresponding fibre of the opposite side, by 
what anatomists call a commissure, and which 
I have illustrated on the table by voltaic 
arrangement. 

We have represented to our minds, not only 
simple sensations, but also combined impres- 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 47 

sions 5 thus, while I am looking at all the parts 
of this theatre, one impression — namely, that 
of a theatre — is brought before my mind. 
There is no difficulty in obtaining this result 
by voltaic means 5 and the mechanism by 
which I believe it to be accomplished I have 
termed the syndramic or combination battery. 
Thus, if we have three primitive nervous fibrils, 
A) B, C, they may be thus combined : A B, 
A C, B C, A B C. The diagram behind me 
illustrates this mode of combination 5 and here, 
upon the table, I have the voltaic arrangement 
itself 5 and you can not fail to observe that 
these wires, even on this very limited scale, 
begin to look like the interlacing which we 
observe in the brain. 

If we divide any space into a certain num- 
ber of squares, and give to each square a cer- 
tain name or figure, it will be apparent, that 
by simply giving the names of the squares 
filled up with black, the word, or name, or 



48 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY j OR, 

symbol, would at once be accurately de- 
scribed. I have divided this piece of card 
into certain squares, and if I read you a cer- 
tain combination of numbers, it would appear, 
at first, to give no definite idea, but if you ex- 
amine carefully, you will find that this combi- 
nation of numbers brings out the word life. 
This word, I find, has been very unfortunately 
chosen, but in reality I only selected the word 
in illustration of the principle of combination, 
because it only consisted of four letters, and 
because each letter was so formed that it very 
perfectly filled up square spaces. 

Ladies constantly in practice take advan- 
tage of this principle in their patterns of 
worsted work j and it would be possible so to 
describe a picture, up to the very limit of our 
powers of sensation, that it might, from the 
description alone, be repeated in any country, 
and yet be a perfect fac-simile. 

I dwell thus long upon the syndramic, or 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 49 

combination battery, because, in all proba- 
bility, it constitutes a very large part of the 
brain. When we consider the large number 
of ultimate fibres in each organ of sensation, 
I do not think that we have reason to suppose 
every possible combination ensues; and even 
with regard to ordinary sentient nerves, 1 
think that such a universal combination would 
be embarrassing to the mind, and that the 
combination probably would extend to the 
nerves of each separate region of the body. 
It is quite certain that we always know the 
specific sense by which impressions are learnt 
— that is to say, that we know whether an 
idea has been derived from the eye, nose, 
mouth, or other organ of sensation. This 
resolves itself into one idea for a vast number 
of sensations, and is a state which can very 
easily be imitated by voltaic contrivances. I 
have upon the table a voltaic arrangement of 
this character, in which but one action is pro- 



50 electro-biology; or, 

duced from one or all the combinations which 
exist in the syndramic battery. In some cases, 
ideas do not arise alone from action on one 
sense, but on two or more senses at one time 
— a combination which I infer to occur in the 
syndramic noemic battery 5 and lastly, it is 
necessary to assume, that all these last combi- 
nations of each specific sense are connected 
, together into one total in the pneuma-noemic 
battery, from the opposed pole of which the 
dynamic or motor nerves spring. 

The situation of this important battery is 
somewhere in the base of the brain ; .and I 
believe that in applying the electro-voltaic test 
in this situation, I have obtained deflection of 
the galvanometer. Let me, however, speak 
with the utmost caution upon this point 5 for, 
although I have tried the experiment over and 
over again, the animal is almost invariably de- 
stroyed 5 and in fact, by the electro-biological 
maps which are suspended upon the wall, you 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 51 

will at once perceive that an action here influ- 
ences every nerve in the body, and thus may 
very readily destroy vitality. 

Now, what are the qualities of this last bat- 
tery, which has but one impression for all the 
sensations of the body ? We find that it rep- 
resents totality, and can not be limited. It 
has therefore the properties of infinity, and 
gives to man his most exalted ideas. The 
ideas of soul, God, eternity, immortality, are 
obtainable from this battery, acting in con- 
junction with the lower batteries w 7 hich I have 
already described. I regret exceedingly that 
the hour allotted for this lecture has now been 
so far spent that I am unable fully to consider 
the properties of the mind deducible from the 
theoretical structure which I have developed 
upon voltaic laws 5 but, under the circumstan- 
ces, I feel bound to pass on to matters which 
can be elucidated by direct experiment. 

When the voltaic force is carried by the 



52 ELECTIiO-BIOLOGY J OR, 

sensor nerves to the brain, it there causes 
some change of matter, by which polarity is * 
ever after determined. This phenomena is a 
physical result of the most ordinary kind 5 for 
I have here a solution of argento-cyanide of 
potassium, with two copper poles, and, before 
the lecture^ I passed a voltaic circuit from one 
pole to the second, by which I have effected a 
change of matter, and silver has been precipi- 
tated on one side. You will now see, that 
immediately I connect the two poles with the 
galvanometer, a strong deflection will ensue, 
and, to use a metaphorical phrase, the solution 
has remembered what I did to it. This exper- 
iment, which is but a sample of a class, must 
only be regarded as analogical, and is only 
valuable to show that voltaic electricity may 
produce effects which will ever after be appa- 
rent. 

In the arrangement of the nerves of the 
body, every sensor nerve is opposed to every 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 53 

motor nerve, and may excite it to action under 
certain circumstances. Now, before I con- 
sider this subject in detail, I may state that the 
voltaic circuit, when it has the choice of two 
or more roads, invariably takes the easiest 
route, to the exclusion of all the rest. Here 
is an arrangement, in which one of my pla- 
tinized silver batteries is connected with two 
precipitating troughs, having the same distance 
to travel in both cases, but one is charged with 
sulphate of copper, the other with sulphate of 
zinc 5 and yet with this trifling difference the 
entire current has passed through the sulphate 
of copper, to the exclusion of the sulphate of 
zinc, because copper was more easily reduci- 
ble than zinc, and therefore offered a some- 
what easier passage to the voltaic force. 

Upon examining the arrangement, I find 
that the experiment has been tried under the 
most trying circumstances, as I observe that 

the positive pole, ti the sulphate of copper, is 
5* 



54 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY j OR, 

almost entirely dissolved. Notwithstanding, 
however, this, the law which I have developed 
and described in my Electro-Metallurgy still 
holds good, though I must confess that I should 
not have risked the demonstration of this ex- 
treme application of the law 7 , which fortunate- 
ly, by accident, has brought the matter more 
strikingly under your notice. 

Frdni this law, we learn that the voltaic cir- 
cuit would be completed, through the nearest 
motor nerve, when any sensation was excited, 
unless obstacles were presented to its passage 
in that direction, or any circumstances favor- 
able to its passage through any other motor 
nerve were afforded in some more distant part 
of the electro-biological circuit, when even the 
farthest motor nerve might be excited to ac- 
tion. 

The action of every animal is determined, 
then, not only by the impression received at 
the moment, but by every other event which 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 55 

it has registered or remembered from the first 
moment of its life. 

The motor nerves, by which the circuit is 
completed in the body, are distributed, in 
man, to the muscles 5 in other creatures to the 
electric organs 5 in others, to light-generating 
structure. The electric battery of fishes, as it 
is technically called, is composed of an enor- 
mous number of minute cells, supplied with 
blood-vessels. The nervous force, which I 
have already shown to be voltaic, acts at right- 
angles to the direction of the cells, and there 
produces some change of matter which in- 
stantly causes a powerful voltaic current. 

I have here a glass vessel, containing a so- 
lution of ferrocyanate of potash, into the inte- 
rior of which is placed a porous cell, contain- 
ing a similar solution 5 a platinum pole is 
inserted into both vessels, for the purpose of 
connection with the galvanometer. Now, if I 
pass a voltaic cm Ten* from the outside to the 



56 



ELECTRO-BIOLOGY J OR, 

Fig. 5. 




Artificial electric eel : Z, S, connections to be attached to the 
battery ; N, P, wires exhibiting the phenomena. 

inside (Z S), no change of matter takes place 
in one part — the prussiate of potash remains 
the same $ in the other, it is converted into the 
red prussiate. From this change, one side 
becomes strongly positive to the other; and 
you perceive that so powerful a current has 
been generated, that the needle completely 
swings round the instant connection is made 
with the galvanometer, I have only shown 
this experiment upon one cell 5 but it must be 
manifest to you, that, as every cell adds a 
certain amount of force, it simply requires a 
number to make a battery as powerful as that 
of an electric eel. The artificial electric eel 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 57 

I have myself constructed, in a vast variety 
of ways, which I have not now time to con- 
sider. 

The muscular substance is ultimately divis- 
ible into primitive fibrils, which consist of a 
sheath, called the sarcolemma, containing in 
the interior a peculiar matter, which, during 
the act of contraction, becomes wider and 
shorter ; and this contraction is caused by a 
change of matter, produced by the voltaic 
force carried through the motor nerves. 

I have here a strong piece of gut to imitate 
the sarcolemma, and into the interior of this I 
have placed fluid and pieces of platinized sil- 

Fig. 6. 




Artificial muscular substance 



58 electro-biology; or, 

ver. Upon the outer side of this gut is placed 
a strong piece of amalgamated zinc, so that 
the moment connection is made between the 
zinc and silver, gas is evolved, which renders 
the bladder wider and shorter, and thus moves 
this bar of wood over a space of three or four 
feet. (See fig. 6.) 

The conditions of the natural muscle and 
artificial muscle are perfectly analogical 5 both 
possess a power only limited by the strength 
of the materials. In both cases, the power 
acts over the short end of the lever, and there- 
fore at a mechanical disadvantage. In both 
cases it is a great power moving over a small 
space. I, however, can move my natural mus- 
cles much quicker than I can my artificial 
muscle 5 but you must please to remember 
that my organs are not competent to construct 
a machine having such fine tubes as we find 
in the ultimate muscular fibrils ; and for want 
of this delicacy of construction, we sacrifice 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 59 

the speed and rapidity of action observable in 
the perfection of Nature's operations. 

Anxious to lay before you the leading ex- 
periments and deductions of this truly delight- 
ful subject, I have delivered this lecture with 
the utmost possible rapidity 5 and yet I see 
around me multitudes of experiments which I 
fear that I shall have no time to explain, as the 
hour has already passed. By your applause, 
I understand that you wish me to proceed 5 
but as some of my audience live at considera- 
ble distances, I will only detain you by calling 
your attention very briefly to a few other 
points. In the first place, we find that man 
consists of a double voltaic circuit, and there- 
fore we ought to consider the nature of the 
changes taking place in that voltaic circuit. 
Now, there are strong reasons to suppose that 
hydrogen and carbon act as the positive pole, 
and become changed in that capacity into 
water and carbonic acid. It would only re- 



60 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY ; * OR, 

quire one thirty-second the quantity of these 
materials to produce any result that it would 
of zinc j and I can assure you, that many a 
time have I sought diligently and carefully for 
a voltaic circuit which should be efficiently 
excited by carbon or coke as a positive ele- 
ment 5 and I can promise to the fortunate dis- 
coverer of such a combination the delight of 
being able to supersede the steam-engine, and 
the pleasure of successfully generating the 
voltaic light. Then, and not till then, will 
voltaic batteries be employed to the exclu- 
sion of every other means of generating 
force. 

Although up to the present time I have not 
been able to use coke or carbon for a positive 
pole, I have succeeded in making a variety of 
circuits, in which substances composed of 
carbon and hydrogen form powerful voltaic 
circuits 5 for instance, sugar and nitric acid, 
oxalic acid and chloride of gold, ferrocyanate 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN, 61 

of potash and nitric acid, constitute examples 
of this class of batteries. 

The voltaic circuit in animals is exactly 
balanced, and does not act without some im- 
pression to set in motion the electric current. 
The arterial or oxygenized corpuscles are ad- 
mirably adapted for this purpose 5 and I have 
here an experiment which will illustrate their 
functions in a very beautiful manner. The 
glass vessel which I hold in my hand contains 
a solution of common salt, and two iron poles 
are inserted into it. Now, in this state every- 
thing is balanced, and no voltaic force is ex- 
hibited. If I take an artificial corpuscle made 
of animal membrane, containing a little per- 
nitrate of iron, and bring it in contact with 
one of the iron poles, a very powerful deflec- 
tion of the galvanometer ensues, indicating 
the presence of a current. When, however, 
one corpuscle is placed against each plate of 

iron, the effect is again balanced, and no vol- 
6 



62 ELECTRO-BIOLOGY J OR, 

taic circuit arises. These experiments well 
indicate the functions of the blood corpuscle 
in the living body 5 for when one is in contact 
with each end of the nerve fibre, no current 
can take place, but the moment one is re- 
moved, or acted upon by heat, light, or other 
forces, a strong voltaic battery is formed. 

Fig. 7. 



Artificial blood corpuscle. 

I would gladly have occupied your attention 
with a few remarks upon the relations of elec- 
tricity to organic or cell-life. By a modifica- 
tion of the aggregation of cells, a plant pro- 
duces leaves, stalks, flowers, or roots, which 
every gardener knows is, to a certain extent, 
afe much under human control as digging, 
raking, or hoeing. During the prevalence of 
the potato malady, I subjected the plant to 



THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN. 63 

every form of electricity, and in every possible 
manner, over long periods, without obtaining 
any result. 

There is, however, one remarkable circum- 
stance to be noticed with regard to the rela- 
tion of electricity to cell-life $ for I have found 
that electric currents stop the circulation of 
the blood, as suddenly as a stop does a watch 
when put down 5 and this entire stoppage of 
the circulation extends not only to the blood 
corpuscle, but also to the lymph corpuscle 
which creeps so slowly along the side of the 
vessel. 

If we take a review of the functions of ani- 
mal life, we find that all sensations, the regis- 
tration of impressions, thought, action, and 
other phenomena of animal life, are voltaic 
effects, and solely obedient to physical laws ; 
and to the idea of the performance of these 
functions we assign the idea of vitality. Life, 
therefore, is one word used to signify a num- 



64 THE VOLTAIC MECHANISM OF MAN, 

ber of changes. It is no independent reality 
apart from the matter which exhibits these 
phenomena. Neither is it an imponderable 
attached to matter ; nor is it an all-pervading 
ether, or anima mundi, as some philosophers 
would have us suppose. Life, mind, memory, 
reason, thought, come from organization, are 
purely physical phenomena, and cease at 
death. "* — 

Man, however, is immortal. Man, at all 
times, and in all regions, has believed in his 
immortality. Now, that which is mortal can 
have no relation with that which gives to man 
his immortality. That which is infinite must 
not be limited ; time must not be confounded 
with eternity, matter with space, the body 
with the soul, nor material actions with God. 

Electro-biology, then, leads us no less to 
infer, than religion commands us to believe, 
"that the dead shall be raised incorruptible, 
and we shall be changed. 55 



INTRODUCTION. 



Mesmer was the first who reduced the principles of Animal 
Magnetism to a system, and he employed it very successfully as 
an auxiliary of medicine in his extensive practice. This was in 
1774. In a few years he was assailed by numerous enemies. 
The curative effects of animal magnetism excited the jealousy of 
the medical faculty in Paris ; hence the Academe Royale Mede- 
cine, in the exercise of its royal prerogative of intolerance decreed : 
No physician shall declare himself a partisan of animal magnetism 
under the penalty of being struck from the list of members. In 
1745 this same Academy had condemned inoculation as "murderous," 
" criminal," and * £ magical." Peruvian bark shared the same fate ; 
also against the circulation of the blood. In 1784 this Academy 
appointed a committee from their number to examine and report on 
animal magnetism ; but instead of confining their attention to the 
facts which were laid before them, they sought the cause by which 
they were produced, and inquired into the existence of the fluid 
described by Mesmer, but it escaped their research. They could 
not see, taste, or touch it ; they could not collect it in masses, and 
could neither measure or weigh it ; therefore they made a leap in 
the dark, and concluded that animal magnetism did not exist. How 
ridiculous would such tests now seem to determine whether the 
mind exists or not ; but it is equally so with regard to animal mag- 
netism. But the decree of the Academy was assailed on all sides, 
and their sophistry detected by some of the most learned men of 
Europe, and the science spread in spite of persecution, through 
France, Germany, Holland, and many members of the Academy 
became believers and practisers of it, as an auxiliary of medicine ; 
and in 1825, a new commission was appointed to examine and re- 
port to the Society on the subject, and in 1831, they reported unan- 
imously in its favor, although when first appointed, several of the 
committee were opposed to it In Europe, Cuvicr, Laplace, Hum- 
boldt, Dugald Stewart, Coleridge, Prof. Kluge and Dr. FJliotson 



2 INTRODUCTION. 

are advocates of it ; and in our own country, Doctors Bartlet ol 
Lowell ; Flint and Buyard of Boston ; Cutler of N. H. ; Cleaveland 
of R. I. ; and Payne and HofTendahl of Albany, use it with great 
success in their practice as an auxiliary of medicine ; besides the 
president and professors of Union and other Colleges, and a large 
number of the most intelligent men in our country are either prac- 
tical magnetisers or advocates of it. 

We are aware that it has numerous opposers. Every new dis- 
covery has had opposers, and the more important the discovery, the 
more numerous were the opposers. Harvey, the discoverer of the 
circulation of the blood was persecuted by the most learned physi- 
cian, and they so prejudiced the people against him, that he lost his 
extensive practice and had to flee his native country. Gailileo was 
condemned to the inquisition. Fulton was persecuted. But like 
every other truth it will triumph over opposition, and hold up to 
shame and contempt, those who oppose it through ignorance and 
prejudice ; as opposers of this and every truth, are among those who 
never have examined it ; for it is the universal result, that every 
one who carefully examines it, by experiment and observation, be 
comes convinced of its reality. 

Animal magnetism is introduced with success into the hospitals 
of Paris and London. At Berlin is a professorship of Animal Mag- 
netism in the Medical College. The learned Dr. Kluge now fills 
that station. 

Some charge the whole phenomena of Animal Magnetism to the 
devil. Admit this, and we must also admit that he is a clever sort 
of a fellow after all, to thus relieve distress, and reclaim the drunkard 
from the intoxicating bowl, to become a good member of society : 
to change hatred into love, so that the subject can pray for his ene- 
mies, and be saved from death. Magnetism does all this, and if this 
is a work of the devil, the poor fellow has heretofore been awfully 
slandered. 

Animal Magnetism like every other blessing has doubtless beoo 
abused by some, so has religion. 



ELEMENTS. 

OF 

ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 



CHAPTER I. 

DEFINITION OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

Anmial Magnetism is the action of one mind upon 
another, so as to attract or influence it. We feel it 
whf n listening to the eloquence of a celebrated orator. 
He is the centre of attraction ; the audience is held 
in riveted attention ; he conducts them to the battle- 
field ; they hear the roaring cannon, they see the fields 
strewed with the dead and dying and covered with 
blood. The result is similar when we listen to the 
singing of an accomplished musician. But wh;it is 
more especially understood by animal magnetism, is 
that power which some possess of so concentrating 
their attention, and directing their will with such en- 
ergy, as to put some persons into a magnetic sleep, 
and frequently to cure or relieve diseases. Its more 
appropriate name is pneumatology. It is a species 
of electricity. 

CHAPTER II. 

ANALOGY BETWEEN NATURAL AND MAGNETIC SOMNAMBULISM. 

Sec. I. Natural Somnambulism. A somnambulist 
mentioned by Gassendi used to rise, dres himself in 
his sleep, 2*0 down to the cellar, and draw wine from 
a ©ask. One night he carried on his head a table 



4 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

covered with decanters, up a very narrow stair-case 
and with more dexterity than he could have done when 
awake. 

The Archbishop of Bordeaux, states in the thirty- 
eighth volume of the Encyclopedia, edited by Diderot, 
d'Alembert, &c, the case of a young clergyman who 
was in the habit of rising during the night in a state of 
somnambulism, and writing his sermons. When he had 
finished one page of his manuscript, he would revise it, 
after having read it aloud. In order to ascertain whe- 
ther he made any use of his eyes, the Archbishop held a 
piece of paste-board under his chin to prevent his seeing 
the paper before him ; but he continued to write on 
without being at all incoi nmoded. Dr. Dwight mentions 
the case of a somnambulist who every morning on 
awaking found himself minus a shirt. After thus losing 
about two dozen, and having no remembrance of what 
had become of them, his brother slept with him one 
night, to ascertain, if possible, what he did with his 
shirts. About twelve o'clock he arose, dressed himself 
and went out ; his brother followed him to a pond, one 
mile distant ; there he undressed himself and took his 
shirt and thrust it into a hollow log ; then bathed ; after 
which he dressed himself, with the exception of his 
shirt, and returned, undressed himself, and retired to bed. 
In tne morning he awoke as usual and found his shirt 
missing ; he inquired of his brother what had become 
of it ; he told him that if he would follow him he would 
show it him ; they went to the pond and there found it, 
and all the others, stowed away in the hollow log. 

A man in Massachusetts arose in his sleep and threshed 
out his grain, and then retired to bed ; the next day he 
was much astonished, when he went to his barn for the 
purpose of threshing his grain, to find it already done. 

A girl in Albany is accustomed to rise in her sleep, and 
sew and do other unfinished work of the preceding day ; 
but has no recollection, when awake, of it. 

Dr. Haycock, professor of medicine in Oxford, would 
give out a text in his sleep, and deliver a good sermon 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 5 

from iv, nor could all the pinching and pulling of his 
friends prevent him. A volume of sermons, preached in 
New York a few years since by a young girl, a natural 
somnambulist, have been published. 

Dr. Belden gives the following description of the 
Springfield somnambulist : One of her fits of somnam- 
bulism continued forty-eight hours ; many attempts were 
made in vain to arouse her ; a bandage was tied over 
her eyes, but she read a great variety of cards written 
and presented to her by different persons, told the time 
by watches, and wrote short sentences. A second ban- 
dage was placed over the other, but apparently without 
causing any obstruction to the vision. She repeated 
with great propriety and distinctness several pieces of 
poetry, some of which she had learned in childhood, but 
had forgotten, and others which she had merely read 
several years since ; she sung several songs correctly, 
yet she had never learned to sing, and has never been 
known to sing when awake. In another fit, I took a 
large black silk handkerchief, placed between the folds 
two pieces of cotton batting, and applied it in such s 
manner that the cotton came directly over the eyes, and 
completely filled the cavity on each side of the nose. 
Various names were then written on cards, which she 
read as soon as they were presented to her. When at 
Worcester, in one of her somnambulic attacks, she was 
taught how to play backgammon, and in the sixth game 
beat Dr. Butler, an experienced player. But she could 
not even set the men when awake. 

Dr. Abercrombie gives the following extraordinary 
account of a natural somnambulist : "A girl aged seven 
years slept in an apartment, separated by a very thin 
wall from one which was frequently occupied by an em- 
inent itinerant fiddler, who often spent the greater part 
of the night in performing pieces of a very refined de- 
scription ; but this child took no notice of it only as a 
very disagreeable noise. Six months after, she became 
sick, and was removed to the house of a benevolent lady, 
where, after her recovery from a protracted illness, she 



D ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

was employed as a servant. Some years after, the most 
beautiful music was often heard in the house during the 
night. At length the sound was traced to the sleeping 
room of the girl, who was found fast asleep, but utter- 
ing from her lips a sound exactly resembling the sweet- 
est sounds of a small violin. She would first utter 
sounds precisely resembling the tuning of a violin, and 
then dashed off into elaborate music, which she perform- 
ed in a clear and accurate manner, and with a sound 
exactly resembling the most delicate modulations of that 
instrument. Soon she imitated the piano, and sung, imi- 
tating precisely the voices of several ladies of the fami- 
ly. She was, when awake, a dull awkward girl, and in 
point of intellect was much inferior to the other servants 
of the family." 

Said S. T. Coleridge, "A young woman of 25, who 
could neither read nor write, was seized with a nervous 
fever, during which she talked continually, Latin, Greek, 
and Hebrew. She had when a child lived with a clergy- 
man, who occasionally read in each of these languages." 

Sec. II. Magnetic Somnambulism. M. Delouze in 
his critical history of Animal Magnetism, gives the fol- 
lowing summary of the phenomena of Magnetic Somnam- 
bulism. " When magnetism produces somnambulism, 
the being who is in this condition acquires a prodigious 
extension in the faculty of sensation ; his eyes are shut, 
his ears are closed ; yet he sees and hears better than 
any one awake. He is under the w 7 ill of his magnetiser 
in regard to every thing that cannot hurt him, and he does 
not feel contrary to his ideas of justice and truth. Hs 
recovers the recollection of things he had forgotten when 
awake. He expresses himself with astonishing facility. 
When he awakes he forgets all. The magnetic somnam- 
bule perceives innumerable relations in all objects, with 
an extreme rapidity, and in one minute runs through a 
train of ideas which to us would require many hours. 
Time seems to vanish before him." " Of all the disco 
veries which have excited attention, this gives us the 
most insight into the nature and faculties of man." The 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. / 

following case was embodied in the report of the com- 
missioners of the French Academy, and read to that 
learned body in 1831, to which we have referred. On 
the 18th of March, 1826, M. Petit was set asleep in one 
minute. A bandage was put over his eyes ; one of the 
gentlemen present, M. Raynal, played a game of cards 
with M. Petit, and lost it. The latter handled his cards 
with the greatest dexterity, and without making any mis- 
take. We attempted several times in vain to set him at 
fault by taking away or changing some of his cards. 
They also attest other cases, among which was M. Paul, 
who was put asleep in two minutes by M. Foissac, and 
read fluently any book presented to him. 

The following statement was published in the Salem 

Gazette, in 1836 : " Dr. B , of Providence, operated 

upon a young lady, during the period of magnetic sleep, 
who could tell correctly the time by a watch, though 
enveloped in a cloth, and at the same time having a 
bandage over her eyes. The doctor had a patient sick, 
as was believed, of liver complaint, and bade the som- 
nambulist go in spirit to the man's house, (it being one 
fourth of a mile distant.) Arrived, she, at the Doctor's 
request, described the house, that there might be no 
mistake, and then entered. " What do you see ? " ask- 
ed Dr. B. "A man sick." I wish you to tell me what 
ails him. First look at his head ; is it well ? " Yes." 
How do you know ? " Because it looks like yours or 
any other one who is well." Is the liver, heart, &c, 
well ? " " Yes," Do you see anything wrong ? " Yes, 
there is an enlargement of the spleen." Several ques- 
tions were then put to confuse her, and also to ascer- 
tain if she knew what the spleen was, and where situa- 
ted ; to all which she gave correct answers. In four 
days the patient died ; a post mortem examination was 
instituted ; all the physicians of the city were present, 
to whom the story of the girl was narrated before com- 
mencing operations, and they were requested to exam- 
ine the body to see if they could discover the diseased 
spleen from external examination. They, sixteen in 



8 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

number, declared with one voice that they could not. 
The body was then opened, and to the astonishment oi 
all present, the girl was right; the spleen weighed fifty- 
seven ounces ; its usual weight being from four to six 
ounces." 

The natural somnambule is impelled by his own ima- 
gination, and certain corporeal impressions ; the mag- 
netic wholly depends on the will and faculties of his 
magnetiser. But in all the highest cases of phenomena 
in magnetic somnambulism, there are cases in natural 
somnambulism almost identical with them. 

The following is extracted from the Journal de la 
Meuse for the 20th September, 1835: "A girl by the 
name of Arron, when plunged in a state of natural som- 
nambulism, answers with precision the questions put to 
her ; she perceives not only such natural objects as are 
around her, but also those which are concealed ; and, 
what is still more surprising, objects removed to a very 
great distance. A physician from Chartres, saw her in 
an attack and said to her, " Mary, do you know me ?" 
" Yes sir." " Who am I? " " You are a physician." — 
" Where do I live ? " "At Chartres." " Can you see 
my house ? " " Yes." " Is there any company in it ? " 
" Yes ; four ladies ; one old, two middle aged, and one 
a young lady." " What do I hold in my hand? " "A 
small wooden box." " What does it contain ? " " Sharp 
little iron tools." " What do I hold in my hand ? " 
" Some money." " How much 1 " (She names the 
sum.) " In what coins ? " (She specifies them.) AH 
these answers were perfectly correct. 

The following experiments were performed by the 

writer: June 19th, 1840, put Miss W , of Albany, 

into a magnetic somnambulism in 20 minutes ; she walked 
wherever I directed her, either by word or simply wil- 
ling her. Without any gesture or moving of my lips, 
she would converse with me or with any other one that 
J willed. She would tell accurately what was held be- 
hind her head ; read cards placed on her stomach ; sung 
whenever I willed. June 22d, put her into a magnetic 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 9 

sleep in 14 minutes. Mr. Lancaster, Mr. Bulgin and se- 
veral ladies were present. She walked as before ; a 
large black-board was placed before her at the distance 
of four afeet ; the different individuals present held 
various articles behind it, and she told correctly in evrey 
instance, what they were ; she also read accurately, 
cards and books held behind the black-board. I went 
out of the room, after requesting her to notice what I 
should do, and on my return she stated accurately. She 
is the natural somnambulist that I have referred to in the 
first section of this chapter. 

Clairvoyance at a Distance. — Dr. Arndt, the emi- 
nent German physician, relates, that being one day seat- 
ed near the bed of one of his somnambulists, on a 
sudden she became agitated, uttered sighs, and as if 
tormented by some vision, exclaimed, u O heavens ! 
my father ! he is dying ! he is dying ! " A few mo- 
ments afterwards she awoke, seemed quite cheerful, 
and recollected nothing of the anxiety she had so re- 
cently manifested. She relapsed twice into the same 
state of magnetic sleep, and each time she was tormented 
by the same vision. Being asked what had happened to 
her father, she replied, " he is bathed in blood, he is dy- 
ing." Soon she awoke and was cheerful as before. 
Some weeks after, Dr. A. found this lady pensive and 
sorrowful, she had just received a letter respecting her 
father, who was distant 450 miles, stating that a serious 
accident had befallen him. In ascending the stair of his 
cellar the door had fallen on his breast ; a considerable 
haemorrhage ensued, and the physicians despaired of his 
life. Dr. A. had marked the precise time of the prece- 
ding scenr of the somnambulism of the lady, found that 
it was exactly on the day and at the hour when the ac- 
cident happened to her father. 



10 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 



CHAPTER HI. 

USES OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

When an individual is in somnambulism, sensibility 13 
destroyed, and the most painful surgical operations have 
been performed, and the patient remained the whole time 
in a state of perfect unconsciousness. " The most painful 
chronic diseases, as well as numerous spasmodic nervous 
affections have been either perfectly cured or relieved 
by its application. And it frequently restores the pa- 
tient when medicine fails. Says Deluze, magnetism of- 
ten assuages a fever ; and is a sovereign remedy for en- 
largement of the glands, and has wrought astonishing 
cures in scrofulous complaints ; ulcers which have ex- 
hausted the resources of medicine, have been cured by 
magnetism. A woman w r ho had an ulcer ten years was 
cured in thirty-five sittings. There have been over six- 
ty cases of paralysis cured by magnetism in France. 
Rheumatic affections are usually speedily cured by it. 
It is a certain remedy for tic doloureux. Continues De- 
luze : a young lady of twenty had attacks of epilepsy 
ever since she was nine years old, and had been unsuc- 
cessfully treated by the most able physicians. It is 
three months since she had recourse to magnetism. — 
From the first month her attacks became weaker and 
less frequent ; at the end of the second they entirely 
disappeared, and she now enjoys perfect health." Dr. 
Cutter of Nashua, N. H. gives the following account 
in a letter to T. C. Hartshorn, of Providence, dated — 

Nashua, N. H. Nov. 22, 1837. 
Tic Douloureux. — " I was called to see Miss E. M. 
of this town. The disease was confined to the right 
side of the face. I proposed magnetism, she assented. 
After sleeping a short time I awoke her and the pain 
was gone, and has not returned." 

A little girl ten years of age, daughter of Mr. Mayer 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 11 

of Albany, had had convulsion fits for several days, and 
was given over by the physicians, who said that she 
could not live twenty-four hours ; as the last means hei 
father sent for the Rev. Mr. Garfield, a magnetiser, to 
try magnetism on her. When he arrived, the girl was 
insensible, and her frame much convulsed ; he com- 
menced magnetizing her ; in a few minutes she was per- 
fectly calm, and went into a tranquil slumber and slept 
well during the night ; ths next morning she awoke and 
conversed with those around her ; her fits had ceased ; 
after that she was magnetised several times, and in five 
days she was well. 

Dr. J. W. Robbins of Uxbridge, Mass., thus states, 
" One individual was affected with dyspepsia, had a cra- 
ving appetite for fruits and aliments which were sure to 
distress her. When in magnetic sleep, I enjoined upon 
her in the most impressive manner not to indulge her- 
self in their use. The day following, having procured 
an apple, she wished to eat it, but found herself under 
the control of a mysterious influence which rendered it 
morally impossible. I next tried the experiment with 
regard to tea; I willed that every attempt to take the 
least quantity should be followed by nausea. All her suc- 
ceeding attempts to take tea was followed by distress- 
ing sickness ; and it is now several months, yet those ha- 
bits remain corrected. I tried the experiment of inter- 
dicting the use of both tea and coffee with equal success ; 
the same with the use of snuff." Another gentleman 
states that an inveterate attachment to tobacco in its va- 
rious shapes, has been entirely destroyed, though the pa- 
tient, a medical student, knew nothing of the cause of 
it, while in the ordinary state. In another individual a 
spirit of charitable feeling was induced towards an in- 
dividual who had rendered himself an object of the pa- 
tient's hatred and indignation. Thus far the spirit of 
forgiveness prevails, although the patient is ignorant of 
the cause. Other experiments have been made to excite 
cheerfulness, hope, &c, successfully. It may be applied 
to every bad habit with equal success. 



12 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

A materialist in Albany, when he saw the astonishing 
phenomena of magnetic somnambulism exhibited in his 
own daughter, exclaimed, " I have been deceived, the 
soul is not materia], it is an immortal spirit. I see ample 
proofs of it before me." Therefore this science is not 
only of vast importance as an auxiliary of medicine ; 
but also as a corrector of evil habits, and a promoter of 
Christianity. 

Effects of Animal Magnetism on Superstition. — 
Animal Magnetism throws considerable light on many 
of the mystic rites and ceremonies of the ancients ; it 
unseals the door of the heathen temple, and strips the 
priest before his altar of all his supernatural attributes ; 
it explains a variety of extraordinary facts which the 
historians of all ages have recorded, and connects them 
with each as effects which are identical and dependent 
on the operation of the same cause. It affords, too, a 
satisfactory explanation of the curious facts connected 
with sorcery and witchcraft, which during the middle 
ages excited the apprehensions of the vulgar, imposed 
on the credulity of the learned, and led to those hor- 
rible persecutions which prevailed throughout Europe. 
Prosper Alpinus states that frictions during ablution 
were among the se-cret remedies of the Egyptian priests : 

" The mystery of Oracles, the prophetic ravings of 
the Sybils, are explicable on the same principle." Jose- 
phus was frequently in somnambulism. Among the an- 
cient oriental nations, the treatment and cure of disea- 
ses by the application of the hands is universally attest- 
ed. Jarcha.s informs us that he saw almost every de- 
scription of disease cured in this way by the Indian sa- 
ges. "In looking over the trials of those unfortunate 
persons who w r ere condemned for witchcraft, it is impos- 
sible to escape the conviction that the sorcerers or wiz- 
zards exercised a truly magnetic influence over their 
credulous disciples." " The affected persons exhibited 
several of the phenomena of somnambulism, and it is 
not surprising that in that age of darkness, effects so ex- 
traordinary were ascribed to the devil." 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. J 3 

Persons in somnambulism, as we have shown, are de- 
prived of sensation ; this in those times was considered 
a sure sign of witchcraft, and multitudes were murdered 
with no other proof against them. Increase Mather 
thus states about the New England witches : " They 
did mutually with the touch cure each other, and fore- 
told when another fit was coming on, and it happened 
accordingly ; their eyes in the fits were fast closed." 
Animal Magnetism explains the phenomena of Irving's 
prophetessses. Those persons who fall at camp meet- 
ings are in somnambulism, and fully explain those phe- 
nomena that they exhibit, which have so long excited 
astonishment. * The somnambulic faculty of clairvoy- 
ance, or the power of seeing events passing at a dis- 
tant place, affords a solution of the nrystery of what in 
the north of Scotland is called second sight." Therefore- 
fore a general knowledge of animal magnetism will ba- 
nish superstition of every description from the globe. — 
The superstitious through ignorance attribute natural ap- 
pearances to supernatural cuuses. 

" Mesmerism and Surgery. — At the invitation of Dr. 
Homer Bestwick, of No. 75 Chambers-st., we witnessed 
Saturday, a surgical operation upon a patient in the state 
of Mesmeric Sleep. The operation was performed at 
No. 152 Church-st., and consisted in the removal of an 
adipose tumor from the back. The patient was a color- 
ed woman named Emeline Brown, a servant in the fa- 
mily of the Rev. Dr. Higbee. She was magnetized by 
Daniel Oltz, of No. 80 Chambers-st., assisted by E. J. 
Pike. After the patient had been thrown into the proper 
state, Mr. Oltz left the room, but Mr. Pike remained and 
held her hand during the operation. The object of this, 
as we understood, was to insure her continuance in a 
state of perfect unconsciousness. Only five minutes 
were occupied in magnetizing the patient. She sat in 
a chair, her head thrown forward and resting on a table. 
There was every indication of a state of perfect uncon- 
sciousness. 

* Dr. Bostwick, before commencing the operation, sta- 



14 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

ted that he had been entirely skeptical on the subject, 
but had desired in this instance to subject the claims of 
magnetism to a practical test. Mr. 01 tz, the magneti- 
zer, had not known the patient until some three days 
previously, and had magnetized her only some four or 
five times, at Dr. Bostwick's request. Mr. Pike had 
never seen her previous to the time fixed for the ex* 
periment. 

" The magnetizer having pronounced the patient in the 
proper state, Doctor Bostwick (assisted by Doctors 
Samuel R. Childs and John Stearns,) proceeded with 
the operation. He first made an incision about eight 
inches in length across the tumor, and then proceeded 
to remove it by the usual process. The operation last- 
ed three minutes, and required no small amount of cut- 
ting. We stood within two feet of the patient, and 
watched her narrowly. There was no muscular twitch- 
ing and no manifestation whatever of sensibility to pain, 
or even of consciousness. A physician examined the 
pulse and said it was quite natural, though somewhat 
feebler, perhaps, than usual. A dead body could not 
have exhibited stronger insensibility to pain. The tu- 
mor weighed ten ounces. The wound did not bleed 
near as profusely as such wounds do when the patient is 
in a natural state. The whole operation of removing 
the tumor and dressing the wound occupied just half an 
hour. 

" The wound having been dressed and the garments of 
the patient adjusted, Mr. Oltz awoke her by a few pas- 
ses, which occupied less than a minute. Her appear- 
ance was much like that of a person suddenly aroused 
from ordinary sleep. Questions were put to her imply- 
ing that the operation had not been peformed, and that 
she would have to be magnetized again. She said she 
would rather submit to the operation at once in the nat- 
ural state than wait any longer. She was asked if she 
did not know that the tumor had been removed. She 
replied in the negative, and with every appearance of 
perfect simplicity and integrity, declared that she had 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 15 

felt no pain and was wholly ignorant of whatever had 
transpired during her sleep. 

" There were present as witnesses, including several 
Reporters for the Press, some dozen persons. Among 
them we name the following gentlemen : — Dr. Eleazer 
Parmly ; Edw T ard A. Lawrence, from the Rooms of the 
Home Missionary Society, J, R. S. Van Vleet, from the 
Office of the Courier and Enquirer ; E. A. Buffum, Re- 
porter for the Herald ; Dr. H. H. Sherwood ; Dr. Ed- 
ward Spring ; Oliver Johnson, Assistant Editor of the 
Tribune. There were others whose names we did not 
learn. 

We have no comment to make upon the facts thus 
stated, except to express our perfect conviction that 
there were no collusions. In fact we see not how de- 
^ntion could have been possible under the circumstan- 
ces. The most obstinate skepticism must yield in the 
presence of facts like these." — ZV. F. Tribune. 



CHAPTER IV. 

PROCESSES. 

There are various methods practiced by different mag- 
netizers. But we think the following preferable : 

If you wish to put a person into the magnetic sleep, 
cause him to sit as easy as possible in an easy chair, 
with his head reclined back, and require him to be per- 
fectly quiet ; sit down before him, place your knees 
beside his ; then take his thumbs in such a manner that 
the inside of your thumbs will touch the inside of his. 
Concentrate your attention, and will him to sleep ; after 
holding him thus about ten minutes, slowly raise your 
hands with the palms turned outward to his head, then 



16 ELEMENTS OF ANUfAL MAGNETISM. 

turning the palms inward let them descend to his shoul- 
ders, and let them remain there five minutes ; then 
let your hands descend with the fingers pointed towards 
the arms, at the distance of two or three inches from 
them to the extremities of his fingers ; let your hands 
then ascend, sweeping them off to the right and the left, 
to their extent, palms outward as before ;. raise them 
as high as the head, then descend as before ; thus continue 
from five to ten minutes, and lastly, lay the right 
hand upon the pit of the stomach. Remember that un- 
less you keep your attention fixed, your will steady and 
unwavering, your efforts will be vain. The operation 
is principally intellectual ; many make no use of the ma- 
nipulations, and produce all the effects by the mere ener- 
gy of the will, at a distance from the patient ; but still 
the movements of the hands give some assistance in pro- 
ducing the magnetic current ; the downward motions are 
magnetic, the upward are not. Some persons are much 
more susceptible of the magnetic influence than others ; 
hence some require a longer time in being put into the 
magnetic sleep than others ; in some cases the processes 
are shortened, in others they must be lengthened. There 
are some persons upon wham magnetism has no sensible 
effects. Another very successful method is, to take the 
patient by one hand and place the other hand on the 
head and exert the will as in the preceding case. 

But a comparative few that are put into magnetic 
sleep become somnambulists, If a person in this sleep 
will answer the questions of his magnetise*, he is m 
somnambulism. To awaken the patient from magnetic 
sleep make upward motions with your hands before his 
face, willing him to awake, and he immediately awakes. 

Its Application to Diseases. — The magnetic sleep is 
highly restorative, and always should be resorted to 
when the complaint is general ; but when there is simply 
a local pain or disease, there is no necessity for it. For 
head-ache place your hand upon the part affected and 
exercise a constant and benevolent desire to relieve pain ; 
and after holding ; t there a few minutes pass it lightly 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 1? 

over the head from right to left ; if the pain is occa 
sioned by the stomach, next place your hand on it and 
proceed as with the head. If the head-ache is accom- 
panied with cold feet, after holding the hand on the head 
for a short time, draw the hands slowly from the head 
downwards, along the sides, to the knees ; soon the 
head will be relieved and the feet become warm. If 
the pain has existed for years it is chronic and must hav<$ 
a prolonged treatment. 

In rheumatism, if local, place your hand where pain 
is felt, hold it for fifteen or twenty minutes, then pass 
your hand lightly to the extremity of the feet, and thus 
continue for ten minutes ; but if the limbs are generally 
affected, make passes at a short distance from them 
to their extremities, for an hour or more ; if the dis- 
ease is chronic repeat the operation daily until the relief 
is complete ; and so of every chronic disease. Says 
Deluze, " I have seen a fit of the gout, so violent that the 
patient could not put his foot to the earth, relieved by one 
sitting and cured by three, and the pains have not re- 
turned for eighteen months. I have also seen a som- 
nambulist in fifteen days cure her magnetizer, who for 
a long time suffered with the gout in the knees and feet. 
For this purpose she merely employed passes along the 
legs, continuing them each day for a quarter of an hour. 
When the gout has mounted to the head or chest, mag- 
netism readily brings it down to the feet, and then draws 
it off at the extremities." 

We mean by pass, simply passing the hand sor moving 
them as we have stated. 

For tooth-ache hold the hand on the part affected for 
a few minutes, then pass the ends of the fingers slightly 
over the cheek from right to left. 

" In biles, magnetise when the inflammation begins." 
" For a felon, make passses along the arm as far as the 
extremity of the finger, and then concentrate the action, 
and then draw it off from the end." 

It is not pretended that magnetism cures all diseases ; 
some are beyond its reach ; but it is a valuable vuxiliary 



IS ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

of medicine, and every physician should be familiar with 
its principles ; and a general knowledge of them would 
relieve many of the ills of life, and preserve multitudes 
from untimely graves. Says Baron Dupotet, " the value 
of such a discovery as animal magnetism is to be esti- 
mated, not by the evils to which its unskilful application 
may give rise, but by the positive good which may be 
derived from it. Already we have seen that during the 
state of magnetic insensibility the most painful surgical 
operations may be performed, and the patient remain the 
whole time in a state of perfect unconsciousness. Is this 
not a boon to suffering humanity ? This is not all ; the 
most obstinate and painful chronic diseases have been 
relieved and perfectly cured by its application. It was 
the successful treatment and cure of diseases which had 
notoriously resisted every other remedy, which compel- 
led the rudest and most inveterate of our antagonists to 
recognize the influence of magnetism ; and when these 
facts were demonstrated beyond all reasonable contro- 
versy, it remained for them to seek in the umbrage of 
their imagination the solution of the mystery. In epilep- 
sy, hysteria, neuralgia, chronic rheumatism, head ache, I 
know of no remedy so immediate and availing. How 
often have I seen the victim of pain writhing in the most 
acute agony, sink under its influence into a state of the 
most placid composure ! How often have I heard thanks- 
givings and prayers breathed in gratitude to the Creator 
for the relief which the afflicted have hereby experi- 
enced ! At Gronigen, a girl nineteen years old was suf- 
fering under hysterical spasms, which sometimes contin- 
ued forty-eight hours ; after being magnetised half an 
hour a day for three weeks, recovered." "A lady resi- 
ding in London, after a violent attack of fever, under 
which she was suffering in December and January last, 
was affected by convulsions of every kind, but mostly ^y 
fainting, which often lasted two hours, and it was difficult 
to bring her to herself. I was present one day when the 
fainting was coming on, and tried to make application ot 
magnetism ; I had scarcely begun to operate, when she 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 10 

quickly recovered from the fainting, as though she had been 
awakened from a dream, and from that moment she gra- 
dually recovered." Says Dr. Elliotson of London, one 
of the most eminent physicians in the British empire, " I 
know of no certain cure for epilepsy but magnetism, I 
have cured several by it." Says Baron Dupotet, " in 
many acute diseases, medicine should be used with 
magnetism." 

To cure a person of any bad habit, as intemperance, 
he must be put into the magnetic sleep and then the 
magnetizer must will with energy that the least partici- 
pation in intoxicating drinks, snuff, tobacco, opium, or 
whatever it may be, should cause nausea, and he will be 
forever unable to partake the interdicted articles ; unless 
in another magnetic sleep the magnetizer should remove 
the interdiction. It may be equally well appled to an- 
ger, revenge, and every evil passion. Hence the philan- 
thropist, by a practical knowledge of this agent has his 
means for relieving suffering humanity increased a thou- 
sand fold; and many frightful maladies, and infidelity, 
will take their flight before its bright rays from our globe. 

Note. A person cannot be magnetized when under the 
influence of any stimulating drink, food, or any excitement. 



CHAPTER V. 

PRECAUTIONS. 

Says Baron Dupotet, " I am anxious to impress on the 
minds of those who may feel inclined to try the experi- 
ment, that the operation is not always unattended with 
danger ; for I have known instances of many who in en- 
deavoring to induce the magnetic phenomena, have 



20 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

placed themselves in a very painful position, and the per- 
son operated on in a very alarming state. Of course 
animal magnetism, like every other science, has its own 
laws, and these should be diligently studied before any 
individual attempts to practice it. M. de S. C, a retired 
officer, having heard a vague report of animal magnetism, 
attempted to make the experiment upon his own daugh- 
ter, although she complained of no illness. He merely 
wished to ascertain whether he could make her feel tho 
magnetic sensations. With this view, and without being 
aware of the extent of mischief he was provoking, he 
laid his hand on the stomach of his daughter and obeyed 
the magnetic injunctions. After a few moments of 
magnetization, she experienced spasmodic attacks, and 
shortly was siezed with violent convulsions ; and her fa- 
ther, not knowing how to calm them, only increased 
their intensity, and she thus remained for a week." 

Says M. de Puysegur, " a young lady of Nantes, of 
distinguished birth, when on a visit to her relative, the 
Marquis de B., was indulging with the rest of the com- 
pany in passing sundry jokes upon magnetism. Her un- 
cle, M. de B., who outstepped, by his sarcastic remarks, 
every one present, and was gesticulating with great 
freedom, began to direct his pretended influence upon his 
niece, when they both set about magnetizing each other 
as fast as they could. At first the young lady laughed 
very heartily, but it was soon discovered that this laugh- 
ter was any thing but natural ; and she was gradually lo- 
sing her reason; she followed her magnetizer every 
where, and yielded to his sole influence. The spectators 
attempted to separate them, but this only provoked 
dreadful convulsions. Her magnetizer felt extraordina- 
ry sensations ; the lady remained in that alarming state 
several days." But if convulsions do occur, the mag- 
netizer by being calm and firm can soon quell them, by 
making passes at a short distance from the patient, and 
directing the energy of his will to soothing or calming 
them. An experienced magnetizer rarely ever induces 
convulsions, and if he should he can speedily remove 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 2J 

them. In niagnetking for the relief of any local pain, 
there is no danger; so that any one can attempt it with 
jmpunity. In nearly all cases where there have been 
convulsions, they have occurred when attempts were 
made through mere curiosity, to excite the magnetic 
phenomena. Women can magnetize equally as well as 
men ; all nurses should be magnetizers. 



CHAPTER VI. 



EXPERIMENTS, 



SaysBaron Dupotet. "A large marble pestle, alter 
being magnetized, was wholly immersed in muriatic acid, 
in which it was kept until the acid had reduced the mass 
to about one half of its original size, it was then drawn 
out, well cleansed, and presented to the somnambulist, 
who fell asleep as soon as he had touched the w r hole 
mass of marble." There is an analogy between anima. 
magnetism and electricity, because if the magnetizer 
places himself on an insulated glass stool, he can mag- 
netize with double power, and if the hand of the mag- 
netizer is on the head of the magnetized, and the hand of 
the latter touches the head of the magnetizer, that mo- 
ment he experiences a shock like that of electricity ; 
also if a natural magnet be held near the hand of a per- 
son in magnetic sleep, it follows the magnet. A bottle 
of magnetized water put to the feet of a person with 
cold feet, will warm them. Magnetized water is very 
beneficial to persons in ill health. 



2& ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM 



CHAPTER VII 

CONCLUSION. 

The phenomena of somnambulism are simitar " to the 
unclouding of the mind previous to death. Thus does 
the study of animal magnetism assume a peculiar sacred 
interest.; it is the unveiling to us our spiritual nature, and 
leads us onward even to the verge of eternity." It also 
demonstrates that all thoughts are in themselves imper- 
ishable, and will at one view crowd upon us when sepa- 
rated from our clay tenements. " Do we understand the 
connection between our bodies and souls ? No. Let 
proud philosophy, therefore, descend from her throne ol 
bigotry and intolerance, and with a spirit of humility, 
prepare to investigate these solemn mysteries. I know 
of no study so exalting to the human mind, none so deep- 
ly interesting to all who are capable of reflecting or* 
their destiny/' 

" To practice magnetism successfully," says M. de 
Puysegur, " you must have an active will to do good ; 
a firm belief in your power, and an active confidence in 
employing' itJ 7 

Let us thank heaven that the exercise of an agent so 
useful, and sublime as that of animal magnetism, demand- 
ing only suigleness of faith, purity of intention, and a 
development of a natural sentiment, which connects us 
with the sufferings of our fellow men, and inspires us 
with the desire and the hope of relieving them.*' The 
female tract distributor, who understands magnetism, 
has an additional power of doing good, and can be an 
angel of mercy to multitudes of the poor and suffering 
in our cities. If the immortal Howard had understood 
it, how much more good he might have accomplished, 
what sparkling gems it would have added to his crown ; 
what new joys would have filled his heart. 



APPENDIX. 



MAGNETIC AND CLAIRVOYANT TREATMENT OF 
INSANITY. 

In 1847, Dr. Barker, of South Adams, Mass., cured Miss 
Potter, of that place, of insanity, oy magnetism The following 
statements on insanity were made on the evening of June 11th, 
1848, by S. G. Grooms, of Troy, N. Y., while in the clairvoy- 
ant state. 

Insanity ', or Disease of the Mind. — Physicians are often igno- 
rant of its cause. There are portions of the brain that cannot 
bear the least pressure, without derangement, or fits. The or-* 
gans of Destructiveness and Combativeness are the most easily 
affected. When there is an equilibrium of the circulation of the 
blood, there will be no derangement : lack of circulation is the 
first cause of insanity ; then a portion of the serum does not be- 
come blood. A bruise becomes bad blood, and pleurisy is pro- 
duced by thick blood. 

Different organs become deranged, as Eventuality, Constructive- 
ness, Secretiveness, and Acquisitiveness; when the last-named or- 
gan and Color are deranged, the person thus affected will steal arti- 
cles of a certain color. The physician's first object should be, to 
ascertain what organ is affected. If Mirthfulness is disordered, 
excite Veneration. Try to draw the surplus blood from the brain 
toward the extremities, by magnetic passes. 

Insane persons ought never to be opposed. Follow them in 
their views, as if they were sane, by small portions, in due sea- 
son. Examine the patient's hands and feet ; when they are 
warm, and animal heat is equalized with moderate perspiration, 
and the system is open, the health of the person is good. 

Treatment. — For Nervous Derangement. — After bleeding 
the patient a little, give the following medicine to strengthen the 
nerves. Take tincture oi iron, (made by pouring boiling water 
upon iron, or boiling a piece of iron in water,) with skull cap and 
a little castor, (from the beaver,) and assafoetida, and make a tea 
of this mixture. Or sulphate of iron, one ounce; rectified spir- 
its, two pints. Another mode is : take ammoniate of iron, four 
ojnces; proof spirits, one pint: digest and strain. 

For Mental Derangement. — Reduce the patient by dieting, 
and not permit him to eat food that makes blood. The following 
articles are appropriate, namely : crackers, rice, and molasses ; 



24 APPENDIX. 

and avoid stimulants. A person of strong, robust, constitution, and 
red face, needs bleeding. Palsy is produced by a similar cause 
as insanity. Never let the insane know that you think them in- 
sane, as it makes them worse ; and also eyeing them with suspicion 
does the same. The reason why their best friends prove their 
worst enemies is, because they eye them closely, which horrifies 
the insane and increases their malady, and begets in them extreme 
hatred toward their friends. Insane persons should be talked 
with as if they were sane and rational. They ought to see fre- 
quent change of scenery, the oftener the better; and in extreme 
cases, let pictures in the room be changed hourly. 

Persons that become insane by fixing their thoughts constantly 
on one thing, are hard to cure. Any person confined in a white 
glass globe, would become insane in six hours. Long and intense 
thinking on one subject will render any person more or less in- 
sane. 

The doctrine of election causes more insanity than any other 
one subject, because it leads its believers to doubt and melancholy, 
and finally to despair. Universalists are rarely insane, as they 
are buoyed up by hope, and are often cheerful ; but Universalism 
is a passport without a signature: a robe not in the fashion of the 
robe of righteousness. All insane persons are costive. Typhus 
fever is a species of insanity. The nerves of voluntary and in 
voluntary motion are opposite ; if the one class are unusually 
active, the other are proportionally inactive. 

In addition to the other remedies, give a tincture of Cayenne 
and aJcohol, and use the warm bath, with friction, by rubbing the 
patient; with a wet woollen cloth. 

If the foregoing treatment was observed in the insane hospitals, 
In one week three-fourths of the patients would be cured. 



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